The day returns again, my natal day;
What mix'd emotions with the Thought arise!
Beloved friend, four years have pass'd
Since thou wert snatch'd forever from our eyes.— The day, commemorative of my
Bestowing Life and Light and Hope on me,
Brings back the hour which was thy last on Earth.
Oh! bitter pang of torturing Memory!— Angelic Woman! past my power to
In Language meet, thy Talents,
Temper, mind.
Thy solid Worth, they captivating Grace!—Thou friend and ornament of Humankind!— At Johnson's death by Hamilton t'was said,'Seek we a substitute—Ah! vain the plan,
No second best remains to Johnson dead—None can remind us even of the Man.' So we of thee—unequall'd in thy
Unequall'd thou, as he the first of Men.
Vainly we search around the vacant place,
We ne'er may look upon thy like again.
Come then fond Fancy, thou indulgent Power,——Hope is desponding, chill, severe to thee!—Bless thou, this little portion of an hour,
Let me behold her as she used to be.
I see her here, with all her smiles benign,
Her looks of eager Love, her accents sweet.
That voice and Countenance almost divine!—Expression,
Harmony, alike complete.— I listen—'tis not sound alone—'tis sense,'Tis Genius,
Taste and Tenderness of Soul.'Tis genuine warmth of heart without
And purity of Mind that crowns the whole.
She speaks; 'tis Eloquence—that grace of
So rare, so lovely!—Never
By her to palliate Vice, or deck a Wrong,
She speaks and reasons but on Virtue's side.
Her's is the Energy of Soul sincere.
Her Christian Spirit ignorant to feign,
Seeks but to comfort, heal, enlighten, chear,
Confer a pleasure, or prevent a pain.— Can ought enhance such Goodness?—Yes, to me,
Her partial favour from my earliest
Consummates all.—Ah!
Give me yet to
Her smile of Love.—the Vision disappears. 'Tis past and gone—We meet no more below.
Short is the Cheat of Fancy o'er the Tomb.
Oh! might I hope to equal Bliss to go!
To meet thee Angel! in thy future home!— Fain would I feel an union in thy fate,
Fain would I seek to draw an Omen
From this connection in our Earthly date.
Indulge the harmless weakness—Reason, spare.—
